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Playground area at Royal Hills Park <br />6 Introduction Arden Hills Park System Plan 7 <br />The city recognizes that its parks, trails, <br />and natural areas are essential places for <br />community gathering, recreation, and <br />connection with nature. Although the <br />2002 Parks, Trails and Open Space Plan <br />established a vision for the future of the <br />city’s outdoor recreational system, it is now <br />24 years old and no longer adequately <br />reflects the recreational needs of Arden <br />Hills residents. To better align today’s <br />needs with tomorrow’s aspirations, the <br />City of Arden Hills decided to undergo the <br />develop of this new Park System Plan — <br />an ambitious, community-driven vision <br />designed to shape the future of the city’s <br />parks, trails, and open spaces. <br />Rooted in the values of inclusivity, <br />sustainability, and shared stewardship, <br />this plan reflects the voices of Arden Hills’ <br />residents and aims to ensure that every <br />member of the community can enjoy safe, <br />welcoming, and vibrant public spaces. <br />At the heart of this plan is a commitment <br />to community-wide engagement. Through <br />surveys, pop-up events, open house events, <br />public forums, collaborative workshops, <br />steering committee involvement, and <br />PTRC and city council engagement, <br />we’ve listened closely to the needs and <br />aspirations of Arden Hills residents. This <br />inclusive process has guided the plan’s <br />priorities and will continue to shape <br />implementation moving forward. <br />Parks + Green Spaces <br />Increase Physical <br />Activity <br />Parks Strengthen Social <br />Connections that are <br />Positive for Health <br />Parks Improve <br />Environmental Health + <br />Climate Resilience <br />Contact with Nature <br />Promotes Mental + <br />Physical Health <br />Increased physical <br />activity is associated <br />with reduced <br />obesity, reduced <br />osteoporosis, lower <br />blood pressure, <br />enhanced child <br />development, and <br />improved mental <br />health. <br />Park access bolsters <br />social connections <br />and brings people <br />together. Even <br />informal encounters <br />in a playground or <br />on paths can lead <br />to positive social <br />outcomes. People <br />commonly have <br />social gatherings in <br />parks and make new <br />friends there. <br />Parks provide <br />cooling benefits <br />to neighborhoods <br />within a 10-minute <br />walk, can reduce <br />flooding of streets <br />and homes, and <br />can even filter air <br />pollutants. <br />Contact with the <br />natural environment <br />has a number of <br />benefits, including <br />lower blood pressure, <br />improved birth <br />outcomes, reduced <br />cardiovascular risk, <br />less anxiety and <br />depression, and more. <br />About the Plan <br />Why are parks, trails + <br />recreation systems so important?